Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 10, 2012 Kaieteur News Page 5

Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news

DEAR EDITOR,I endorse the view

expressed by Mr. HarryHergash (KN Oct 6) that thecontributions made by Mr.Peter D’Aguiar, the deceasedfounder and leader of thecapitalist United Force party,should be recognized with hisname emblazoned on abusiness institute at U.G. Hehas left lasting impressionson our country.

Mr. D’Aguiar was acontroversial personality inour politics but he also madepositive contributions. Yes,D’Aguiar was partlyresponsible for the violenceof the 1960s that left untold

Support for a Peter D’Aguiar School of Businessdeath and destruction whenhe teamed up with Burnham,the CIA, the ChristianChurches, BritishIntelligence, and the labourmovement (funded by theAFL-CIO, AIFLD, etc.) toundermine Jagan’s left winggovernment.

Every political leader ofthat era was responsible forthe dozens killed and themillions of dollars of propertythat were destroyed. ButD’Aguiar recognized hiserrors of the 1960s and cameto terms with them.

He expressed regrets fortrusting Burnham who backstabbed him and he was

DEAR EDITOR,It is with a heavy heart that

I write this in response toElizabeth Henry’s Dear Editorfrom September 2. I realize itwas over a month ago, but itis little surprise that no otheradvocate for the villagers ofAishalton has steppedforward.

The village is uneducatedand culturally lost at thecrossroads of traditionalAmerindian lifestyle and theinfluence of western culture.Few people have access tonewspapers, let alone internetaccess to send “Letter to theEditor” in their own defense.

Due to poor educationthey are easily swayed by thewords of local and regionalpoliticians. I was aWorldTeach volunteer inAishalton until July of thisyear, and experienced firsthand the hardships thatinundate the community. If Imust speak for the village fromabroad than so be it.

Let me first be absolutelyclear: Clayborn, Mark andAdrian, the boys that

Misrepresenting thepeople of Aishalton

tragically died in December2011, did not die in adormitory fire. They wereburied in a collapsing riverbank. I know this because Iput them into their coffins.Please do not use them astools in political warfare.

I expect Elizabeth Henryhas never been to theHinterland. She seems to thinkthat all parts of Guyana areequal in the eye of thegovernment and thatprotesting in Aishalton wouldhave any impact whatsoever.

The truth is thegovernment of Guyana doesnot care about Aishalton orother similar villages. It canafford not to. They are not alarge voter base or a sourceof economic power.

The power generator inAishalton broke down inNovember 2011 and to myknowledge is stillnonfunctional. Aishalton is aneight-hour truck ride fromLethem, the nearest gasstation, bank, or post office.

While I was teaching atthe secondary school we

nearly ran out of chalk. Thereis not enough furniture forstudents to sit down inschool. A majority of the staffat the secondary school haveno qualifications. Want toknow why a protest inAishalton would never work?My volunteer site mate and Itried to start one! Few peoplewanted to participate. Why? TheAmerindian people are culturallynon-confrontational, andunfortunately accustomed toabuse.

The government knowsthis which is why it is in norush to improve village life.Henry’s asser t ion tha t“You villagers should beashamed of yourselves tobe l iv ing under thoseconditions in these moderntimes,” makes it clear, that likethe Guyanese government, shetoo cares little for these people.

If is truly democracy youseek, Elizabeth, maybe youshould advocate for theneediest citizens of yourcountry, instead of ridiculingthem.

Samuel Lindauer

DEAR EDITOR,Reference is hereby made

to the above caption as itrelates to the Western Drainsituated in Henry Street,Werk-en-Rust. The problemhas been ongoing for overfour months, despiteassurances from theEngineer’s Department, of theM&CC that the problemwould be rectified. Absolutelynothing has been done!

The reason for mehighlighting this issue,publicly, is simply due to mebeing disillusioned with theexceedingly high level ofunprofessionalism existingwithin the M&CC. Thiscomes against the backdropof numerous phone calls to

When will the M&CC addressthis drainage problem?

various departments.In one instance I was

given all assurances that a“legal document” would beforwarded shortly to anoffending party since theindividual had breached theCouncil’s building code.Suffice it to say that sincethen, the home owner at Lot 6Henry Street had constructeda concrete bridge.

The water that flows fromnorth to south, draining in thePrinces Street Canal, hasceased simply because noexcavation was done prior tosandfilling, if any, prior topouring the concrete mixturefor solidification of the bridgestructure.

With stagnation of the

waste water from fourteenhouseholds I shudder to fullycomprehend an outbreak of awaterborne disease, as theoverflow of liquefied sewerage,would subsequently find its wayin the drain.

And not foregoing anincrease in mosquitobreeding, compounded by abackflow of water into yards,which are exceedingly low!

Finally, legal proceedingsshould be filed against theM&CC, for failing todischarge its functionseffectively in a timely manner,towards ensuring the healthand safety concerns of itscitizens, who pay their fairshare of rates and taxes.

Name withheld

disappointed in those whobetrayed his party bycrossing over to Burnham,But D’Aguiar also mademany positive contributionsto society that we (includingthe left wingers) benefit fromup till this day.

The businessesD’Aguiar started some sixtyyears ago have kept growingand have created jobs forhundreds. Those businesseshave contributed enormouslyto our GDP.

It was a tragic blunder bythe government of the day tovirtually drive out of Guyanathe D’Aguiar family andother wealthy and

professional Portuguese.Other countries have becomethe beneficiaries of theirlargesse and entrepreneurialskills.

They started businessesin Barbados and Canada.Their Banks beer and softdrinks are selling well inBarbados and neighboringislands as well as in Guyaneseclubs in North America andthroughout the Caribbean.

The Portuguese supportersof D’Aguiar’s party, virtually allof whom have migrated, can befound all over the Caribbean,Canada, the US, and NewZealand.

In my travel earlier thisyear I met a few anddiscussed politics with themwhile I was visiting Aruba, St.Maarten, Antigua, Barbados,Tahiti, and New Zealand.

They reminisced aboutthe good life in Guyanabefore the struggle for powerbegan to take a toll on thenation. And they talkedabout the progress Guyanawould have made underD’Aguiar had he been givenan opportunity or hadBurnham not pursued powerand instead worked withD’Aguiar.

The governments of the1960s made a terrible mistake innot utilizing the entrepreneurialskills of D’Aguiar to transform

the country. Instead of battlingover which ideology was bettersuited for Guyana and attackingD’Aguiar’s bourgeois positions,they should have engagedD’Aguiar on how to grow theeconomy – we would havebecome a Singapore or a Taiwanlong before those countriesachieved developed status.

Today, both major partieshave embraced capitalismwhich is no longer a dirtyword in Guyana.

Everyone, including thecommunists, are pursuingwealth and one is loved andembraced in Guyana fordisplaying bourgeoispropensities.

Ever since the collapse ofthe economy during the1980s, people have beenlooking at D’Aguiar as a rolemodel and yearn for a leaderof his business caliber torescue the country. Although

Guyana has done well overthe last 20 years, the countrycould have done a lot betterhad D’Aguiar been around orhis ideas used to manage theeconomy.

D’Aguiar’s businessesstand out in Guyana. Hiseconomic philosophy of freeenterprise has been takingroot after they werecondemned just two decadesearlier. As a captain ofindustry, he ought to berecognized.

Banks DIH should act onHergash’s advice and createan endowment at UG for thisoutstanding deceasedbusinessman. A PeterD’Aguiar School of Business& Management will train thefuture entrepreneurs totransform our economy andperhaps one day turn us intoa Singapore.

Vishnu Bisram

Page 6 Kaieteur News Wednesday October 10, 2012

The performance of theOpposition in the NationalAssembly is coming under fire,with questions being askedwhether it was necessary for anine-week break.

The recess ends todayand the Parliament is set toreconvene later this month.

According to financialcommentator, ChristopherRam, the work by the AllianceFor Change (AFC) and the 10-party coalition A PartnershipFor National Unity (APNU)during the first session of the10th Parliament left much tobe desired.

“Of 21 bills presented, 20of them were from thegovernment, while the otherwas from APNU’s VoldaLawrence…and it had to domainly with regards to theSpeaker - nothing of priority.

“October 10th (today)marks the end of the firstrecess of the NationalAssembly, and as we lookback at the performance of thelegislative agenda, it is verystriking… it is disappointing

Opposition’s performance inParliament disappointing

- tabled only 1 of 21 billsand almost depressing,” Ramopined.

“Five of the bills werefinancial papers and ninewere amendments with only foursubstantives. Only eight weremade into law. Of foursubstantive bills, only one madeit into law and that contained amere three sections.

What has made the mattermore depressing is that theopposition parties had asplendid opportunity tointroduce its own bills as ithas the combined majority.

We even have the Speakerof the House coming from theOpposition. When you lookat the performance of the twopolitical parties, you have tofeel disappointed. I was for one…on the day the elections resultscame out… I was one that waslooking for some tsunamicchanges in Guyana.”

Ram, an accountant andlawyer, who has served on anumber of bodies and hasbeen critical of a number ofgovernment policies andprojects, was highly critical of

the AFC and APNU.“It is clear that there is a

gap between what the peoplesay and what the politicianssay and achieve,” Ramasserted.

He pointed out thatAPNU’s Leader, Brigadier(ret.) David Granger, during aninterview on the ‘Plain Talk’television programme hadsaid that the coalition wasworking to prepare a

legislative agenda for theNational Assembly.

“Now they are sayingthey need international helpin the drafting. I find that quiteappalling. I think we havesome pretty good people indrafting… people withsecond degrees in drafting.

The opposition, bysaying that, is showing scantrespect for the expertise of ourlocal people.”

According to Ram, whilethe Standing Orders in theNational Assembly make itokay for a recess to be taken,it should not be seen ascompulsory.

“In light of the manyissues, including corruptionallegations and manifestos ofthe two opposition parties, itwould have been a good ideato use the time to reduce therecess of nine weeks. Everyother word is aboutcorruption.

Why have we not seenthe tabling of any anti-corruption bills? And a properAccess To Information bill?These are all important thingsthat the opposition - in light ofthe fact that they have acombined majority - should havejumped on and capitalized onduring this time.”

“Issues like localgovernment elections andeven the state of the AuditorGeneral’s office should alsobe priorities.

We have legislation forlocal government reforms for

15 years now pending. Whatis happening to theParliamentarians? Some of themhave been there for 10 to 15 to 20years now…what have theyachieved? Why can’t we havelocal government elections whilethe legislation is being workedon? The Lindens h o o t i n g s … t h r e epeople…should not havedied…there is need for thereforms and elections,” Ramstated emphatically.

“The National Assemblyshould also be examining theestablishment of a LawReform Committee, whichshould be tasked with liaisingwith Guyanese to changelegislation that needschanging,” Ram said.

The AFC and APNU holda combined 33 seats, a one-seat advantage in the NationalAssembly.

Christopher Ram

- Chartered AccountantChristopher Ram

APNU’s Leader,David Granger

Leader of the AFC,Khemraj Ramjattan


Jamaica Gleaner - Severalissues regarding Jamaica’sborrowing relationship withthe International MonetaryFund (IMF) are expected tobe discussed when thePartnership forTransformation talks resumetoday. The last meeting washeld more than a year ago.

Immediate Past Presidentof the Private Sector

HACIPASA, Turkey(Reuters) - NATO said it haddrawn up plans to defendTurkey if necessary shouldthe war in Syria spill over theirborder again as dozens ofpeople were killed across theArab nation yesterday.

Fighting between Syrianrebels and government forcescould be heard from thisTurkish border townfollowing on from severaldays of clashes in the pastweek. One Syrian villager saida rebel push on the town ofAzmarin was expected soon.

In Damascus, rebelsuicide bombers struck at anAir Force Intelligencecompound used as an

MINGORA, Pakistan(AP) — Fourteen-year-oldMalala Yousufzai wasadmired across a battle-scarred region of Pakistan forexposing the Taliban’satrocities and advocating forgirls’ education in the face ofreligious extremists. Yesterday,the Taliban nearly killed her toquiet her message.

A gunman walked up to abus taking children home fromschool in the volatile northernSwat Valley and shot Malalain the head and neck. Anothergirl on the bus was alsowounded.

The young activist wasairlifted by helicopter to amilitary hospital in the frontiercity of Peshawar. A doctor inthe city of Mingora, TariqMohammad, said her woundsweren’t life-threatening, but aprovincial information ministersaid after a medical boardexamined the girl that the next fewdays would be crucial.

Malala began writing ablog when she was just 11under the pseudonym GulMakai for the BBC about lifeunder the Taliban, and began

Trinidad Express - Thedrop in crime in all thehotspots has been achievedwithout the expenditureassociated with the $80million Stephen Mastrofskiplan, the $10 million Major-General Cameron Ross plan ortwo Canadians (a reference toformer commissioner of policeDwayne Gibbs and deputycommissioner Jack Ewatski),National Security MinisterJack Warner boastedMonday.

Speaking in the budgetdebate in the House ofRepresentatives in Tower D,Port of Spain InternationalWaterfront Centre, Warnersaid he looked forward to the

NATO makes plans to backTurkey over Syria spillover

Taliban gunmen shoot14-year-old girl activist

speaking out publicly in 2009about the need for girls’education — which the Talibanstrongly opposes. The extremistmovement was quick to claimresponsibility for shooting her.

“This was a new chapter ofobscenity, and we have to finishthis chapter,” Taliban spokesmanAhsanullah Ahsan bytelephone. The shootingprovoked outrage across thecountry, angering Pakistanis whohave seen a succession of storiesabout violence against womenby the Taliban.

“This attack cannot scare

us nor the courageousMalala. This cowardly actcannot deter Malala to give upher efforts,” said Azizul Hasan,one of the girl’s cousins.

Prime Minister RajaPervaiz Ashraf condemnedthe attack and called her adaughter of Pakistan. StateDepartment spokeswomanVictoria Nuland called theshooting “barbaric” and“cowardly.”

The attack displayed theviciousness of Islamic militantsin the Swat Valley, where themilitary conducted a majoroperation in 2009 to clear outinsurgents, and a reminder of thechallenges the government facesin keeping the area free of militantinfluence.

In her BBC blog, Malalawrote about not wearing heruniform to school afterofficials warned it mightattract the Taliban’s attention,and how many other studentsmoved out of the valley after theTaliban issued an edict banninggirls from school. She wroteabout the Taliban movement hadkept her family from going outafter sunset.

Malala Yousufzai

interrogation centre - thelatest attack to bring theconflict close to PresidentBashar al-Assad’s powerbase.

“Assad...is only able tostand up with crutches,”Turkish Prime MinisterTayyip Erdogan told ameeting of his ruling AK Party.“He will be finished when thecrutches fall away.”

Erdogan, reacting to sixconsecutive days whenshells fired from Syrian soilhave landed on Turkishterritory, has warned Ankarawill not shrink from war ifforced to act.

But his government hasalso stressed it would be

reluctant to mount any bigoperation on Syrian soil andthen only with internationalsupport.

It was not clear whetherthe shells hitting Turkishterritory were aimed to strikethere or were due to Syriantroops overshooting as theyattacked rebels to their north.

NATO Secretary-GeneralAnders Fogh Rasmussensaid in Brussels the 28-member military alliancehoped a way could be foundto stop tensions escalatingon the border.

“We have all necessaryplans in place to protect anddefend Turkey if necessary,”he said.

Drop in crime in hotspots achievedwithout foreigners - Jack Warner

day when murders would bea thing of the past.

Citing figures for thismonth, Warner said in thecountry there were no murderson October 1, one murder onOctober 2 (in Tobago), two onOctober 3 (in Port of Spain), noneon October 4, none on October5, none on October 6, one murderon October 7, one on October 8.“What PNM was in power thiswas unheard of,” Warnersaid. He said the PNM wastelling people that crime wasout of control, but the factsshowed otherwise.

He said while the lowfigures were music to theGovernment ears, it was griefto the Opposition. Jack Warner

Partnership for Transformationtalks resume today

Organisation of Jamaica,Joseph Matalon, said he isencouraged with the progressthat has been reported inrelation to finalising anagreement with the IMF.

However, he saidconsensus must be arrived aton several core policy issuesin an effort to put the countryon a path for growth.

In the meantime,President of the PSOJ,Christopher Zacca is alsohoping that the talks will

play a significant role inhaving cri t ical pol iciesimplemented.

He says he is alsosatisfied that a member of theopposition Jamaica LabourParty is down to attend thatmeeting which will be chairedby the Prime Minister PortiaSimpson Miller.

Several civil societygroups, private sector groupsand trade unions willparticipate in the Partnershipfor Transformation talks.

Joseph Matalon


A call was made forimproving publicaccountability underTransparency Institute’sumbrella when former AuditorGeneral, Dr. AnandGoolsarran, yesterdaylaunched his book -“Improving PublicAccountability - GuyanaExperience 1985-2007”.

Dr. Goolsarran, whoserved 15 years as theAuditor General from 1990,and has been known to beoutspoken, yesterday alsosaid that the practice of notconfirming, on a timely basis,senior functionaries inconstitutional offices is aserious cause for worry.

He cited as examplesChief Justice (ag), Ian Changand Chancellor of theJudiciary (ag), Carl Singh.Chang has been serving inthat position since 2007 andSingh shortly after.

During his book launch atMarian Academy, CarifestaAvenue last evening,Goolsarran stressed that “notconfirming officials topositions in a timely mannercan lead to perception ofdependency on executivegovernment…a dangerouspractice”.

Arguing that the Guyanagovernment’s accountingsystems are too centralized

Perpetual acting appointments dangerous- former Auditor General

says at book launchand bureaucratic, he wasoptimistic that change is now“threatening”.

“People don’t likechange,” he said. “Thecountry needs fresh injectionof ideas and persons in thepublic services.”

He was not immune to theidea of term limits for theAuditor General, anindependent constitutionalpost that over recent yearshas been under the spotlightbecause of its very seeminglack of independency. Thecurrent Auditor General,Deodat Sharma, has beenacting in that position formore than seven years now.

Dr. Goolsarran believesthat few persons are willingto speak out about corruptionwhich happens to bepervasive, “…they fearvictimization and it may verywell be a case of self interestbeing placed above publicinterest”.

Regarding the power ofthe Audit Office, he said it isfar-reaching, with the AuditorGeneral even beingempowered to break downdoors if there are suspicions.

He also emphasised that

the Public AccountsCommittee of Parliamentwhich examines the reports ofthe Audit Office has criticaland tremendousresponsibilities.

Goolsarran opened thebook by noting that Guyanahas a sad history of publicaccountability.

According to GinoPersaud, a lawyer andPresident of theTransparency Institute ofGuyana, the book ispertinent, especially in lightof the fact that the annualCorruption Perception Indexranked Guyana at 134 out of182 countries, last year.

Among other things, Dr.Goolsarran’s book alsotouched on the IntegrityCommission, the creation ofthe Guyana RevenueAuthority, the PublicProcurement Commissionand the Audit Office as wellas the Audit Act.

“In Guyana, fragiledemocratic institutions andinstitutional weaknessesprovide fertile grounds forcorruption. Dr. Goolsarran’sbook examines theseinstitutional weaknesses,”

Persaud noted.The official recommended

the book as a “must-read”.Goolsarran worked with

the UN also, between 2005

and January 2012.He explained that the

book chronicles his personalefforts during his stint asAuditor General, to not only

Former Auditor General, Dr. AnandGoolsarran, autographs a copy of his book

“restore public accountabilityin Guyana, but also to bringabout improvements inaccordance with internationalbest practice.”

Food insecurity and apervasive energy crisis canbe effectively evaded with theinfluences of science,technology, engineering andmathematics.

This assertion was onMonday accentuated byUNESCO Commission(Guyana) Secretary GeneralInge Nathoo as she deliveredbrief remarks to the gatheringat a Caribbean Academy ofSciences workshop which isset to come to an end todayat the National Centre forEducational ResourceDevelopment (NCERD).

According to Nathoo, theavenue of science providesan opportunity to build thecapacity of children to thinkcritically about solutions thatutilise low cost resources.

She said it was againstthis background thatUNESCO recently supportedthe initiation of a pilot projectaimed at implementinginquiry-based scienceeducation in six local primaryschools. Thus far, thisambitious initiative has beenattracting involvement fromboth teachers and pupils andis serving to re-ignite aninterest in the sciences at theprimary school level.

UNESCO stresses importanceof science in schools

Even as UNESCO awaitsthe final results of the pilotprogramme, Nathoo said thatthe body recognises thatscience skills, oncedeveloped, stay for life, thusit is prepared to direct supportto the expansion of theinitiative.

She revealed that YouthChallenge Guyana, a non-governmental organisation,had even sought to embracethe programme with fundingfrom Exxon Mobil, a movewhich amplifies theimportance of partnership.“UNESCO welcomespartnerships like these withthe private sector and wehope that we will be able toexpand on this from apersonal point of view andgenerally,” Nathoo added.

The ongoing scienceworkshop has as its theme“Hazard Mitigation: ProtectingCaribbean Infrastructure –Securing CaribbeanCommunities,” and accordingto Nathoo, it is expected tomotivate teachers to design acurriculum that is relevant toproblem-solving.

In fact, she noted that“there is need for alignmentin our schools’ science andmathematics curricula to

national and regionalcurricula. It is said that anyproblem turned outside in orupside down is anopportunity...so the use ofscience, technology,engineering and mathematics,are tools to solve our foodand energy crises.”

“This is our opportunityto build the capacity of ourchildren to think criticallyabout solutions that utiliselow cost resources. Thehands-on approach that theinquiry based scienceeducation emphasises willprovide the opportunity tobuild students’ interest insciences and help them toconnect what they do in theclassroom with solutions toproblems in their world...Afterall, one definition of scienceis that it is really the humaneffort to solve problems.”

Moreover, Nathoo saidthat UNESCO supports theuse of the micro-science kitwhich promotes hands-onwork by students who maynot have the adequatelaboratory facilities.

“We need our students todo science, not science to bedone to them,” Nathoo said,even as she stressed that“allowing students theopportunity to doexperiments ensure that theydevelop the national scienceprocess skills such asobservation andcommunication.”


The industrial dispute atthe Psychiatric Hospital wasreportedly over a pump. Thisdispute could have beenavoided if those concernedhad simply called in the “pumpman.”

Last year it was revealedthat the government wasspending, in someins tances , hundreds ofmi l l ions of dol la rs ondrainage pumps. All thePsychia t r ic Hospi ta lneeded was a bigger pumpto propel the water to ahigher level. This wassomething that should havebeen easily resolved. Yet,workers at the PsychiatricHospital had to threatenindustrial action if the waterwoes were not solved.

The dispute hasreportedly been addressed byprocuring a bigger pump.

But it was a sad sightindeed to see patients, andstaff alike, having to fetchbuckets of water while at theinstitution. One can wellimagine if inmates had to fetchwater to bathe, just what theconditions of the toilets at thatfacility were like.

The government mustlearn from this issue. When it

CIVIL SOCIETY SHOULD BE ALLOWEDTO LEND A HELPING HAND

comes to importantinstitutions such as hospitals,hospices and old-age homes,priority must be given tosanitation.

Indeed, given the frailty ofthe health of persons at theseinstitutions, sanitation mustassume a higher priority,because unless these placesare clean and well ventilated,persons are going to get sick,and this can lead to all mannerof problems.

There is no way that aninmate at any of the aboveplaces should have to befetching water in buckets.Guyana is supposed to movebeyond those days andsomething as simple as abigger pump should not haveled to the inconvenience ofpersons having to fetch waterin buckets in order to batheor for whatever other purposeit was used.

These things should notbe happening and it speaksto the weaknesses within thesystem of administration thatthese incidents a reoccurring. Greater financialautonomy needs to bedevolved to some of theseins t i tu t ions , so as toensure that they do not

have to suffer bureaucraticor other delays in accessingfunds that can help them tomore quickly address theirimmediate needs.

The government alsoneeds an inspectoratedivision for entities such ashospitals, hospices, homesfor the elderly and prisons.This would be a good way forthe government to involvecivil society in the work ofgovernment.

An inspection teamshould be appointed andgiven the authority toundertake surpriseinspections, so as to ensurethat the conditions at theinstitutions mentioned aboveare consistent with humanstandards. The team shouldalso be free to offerrecommendations on how toimprove things.

There are many minorissues to be resolved in thecountry and citizens shouldbe co-opted in helping toresolve these issues.Yesterday, somebody wroteabout the need to bringgreater order to the trafficsituation in the country.

A special committee canbe established to hold

again, an inspection team canconfirm what is the existingstate of play as regards theselockups and can makerecommendations to remedythe situation.

They can even be part ofthe monitoring andmanagement of the lockups.

The government shouldnot believe that it has thecapacity to do everything thatneeds to be done.

There are many well-intentioned citizens out therewho would love to be part of

the solution to the country’smany problems at thePsychiatric Hospital, theprisons, the lockups, clearingup the garbage incommunities, keeping ourpublic thoroughfares free ofstray animals or simplymaintaining our homes for theelderly.

consultations and makerecommendations.

This would be a goodopportunity to involveprofessionals and civilsociety in the work ofgovernment.

The lockups at the policestations have in the past beenthe subject of criticism. Thecriticism has led to someimprovements, but it is morethan likely that since thenthere have been slippages inthe conditions under whichpersons are detained. Here


THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Frederick Kissoon

This columnist has seena letter by the Speaker of theNational Assembly in whichhe stated that he has no legalauthority to prevent thecordons that the police putup around the perimeters ofParliament (when theAssembly is in session) thusdenying the public access tosix streets. This is despite anapproved parliamentarymotion that demands an endto the practice.

This columnist has alsoseen a reply to the Speakerby the Police Commissioner(ag) in which he has rejectedthe Speaker’s request to stopthe blockade. There are fourquestions to be asked. Is theSpeaker right when he sayshe has no legal jurisdiction toprevent the blockade? Whyshould one think that he iswrong when as a lawyer, hemust have consulted his legaltexts?

Secondly, on whoseauthority is the PoliceCommissioner continuing thepolicy? If he chose to proceedwith the blockade on his own,does he have the power toignore a motion ofParliament? Thirdly, if he isgiven an order by an agency

The Speaker versus the Police Commissionerof the Executive (in this casethe Home Affairs Ministry),can a Minister just dismiss anapproved motion ofParliament withoutconsequences?

Now the fourth question.Does Parliament in theGuyana Constitution havepowers that are independentof the Executive?

There is an easy answerto this curiosity in relation toother countries. The answeris yes. We have just seen amiraculous electoral victoryof the opposition in Georgiathat will create seriousproblems for the executivepresident. In the US, apresident withoutcongressional majorityalways faces budgetnightmares.

The rejection by theExecutive of theparliamentary motion thatdemands the end of thecordons will be one of thebiggest challenges for theopposition in recent times.What is at stake here is thevery viability of both APNUand the AFC. There is thisfeeling among thepopulation—and it isincreasing with each passing

day—- that the electoralvictory of the opposition hasnot changed in even smallways, the way the PPPGovernment has exercisedpower. This frustration has tobe understood within thecontext of the greatexpectation.

After the results of theNovember 2011 generalelections, the nation becameburdened with angst to knowthat unlike the rest of theworld, parties could not haveformed a coalition. But thegreat expectation was thatParliament, now in the handsof the AFC and APNU, woulduse constitutional power todecrease the monopolizationof power by the Executive.This was not to be.

A critic like ChristopherRam has argued in the letterpages of the print media thateven Parliament’s reductionof certain expenditures in thebudget has been ignored bythe Executive. Then there isthe declaration by thePresident that he will notassent to Bills unless theExecutive was involved inthe shape of final contents.

Now there will be theimpasse on the motion. How

can the opposition, whichhas a majority in thecountry’s parliament,approve a motion that it iscontemptuously ignored bythe Government and not loseits credibility in the eyes ofthe citizenry?

The disadvantage facingAPNU and the AFC shouldthey accept the continuationof the cordons is that theyhave a majority in Parliamenttherefore they are bound toendure scorn from thepopulation if they appear tobe weak in the Parliament thatthey control. The trouble forAPNU and the AFC is that ifthey allow the cordons toremain then how can theyapprove of any other motion?

A society will disrespect

any opposition if it takesprecious time of the NationalAssembly to debate motionsthat ought to be recognized,but are disdainfully tossedaside by the Executive. Themoment that the country iswaiting for has arrived. Whatwill the opposition do if thepolice put up the blockadeswhen the 10th Parliamentreconvenes? Will it re-enterParliament as if nothing hashappened? Will it decide thatenough is enough andboycott Parliament? Will itresort to other avenues ofprotest and confrontation?

Whatever it does, therecan be no doubt that it isfacing a credibility test. If itadopts the course of actionof going into Parliament with

the blockade still around thestreets, then it will give theExecutive an enormousvictory. And both the AFCand APNU know that the PPPwill use that weakness to takemore latitude.

Desmond Hoyte is deadand gone, but he did say thatthere is only one type oflanguage the PPPunderstands.

Dem boys seh ...

Rob Earth is a man whodon’t like see money. He sitin Cabinet and hear that demgot money fuh dig drain.Right away he create acondition. He claim how demgot El Nino and he got tospend $700 million pundrains.

When he done spend demoney he tell dem how deweather change and El Ninonot coming anymore but demgot to get pumps. He put outa tender fun $800 million inpump because he claim howa lot of pumping got to bedone. Dem boys seh that hegot experience in pumpingbecause he hand start fuh feelde squeeze.

He get in de order fuh de

Leslie got to pump fuh Rob Earthpump but Uncle Donaldsuspect something and movehe. Is suh Leslie tek over. Andafter Rob Earth move dewhole pump business nearlyfall through because WordSmith didn’t know what to do,only to collect.

Is a big confusion fuh getde pump and now to pleasede people de Word Smithnow talking bout penalty andpenalizing. Who dem gunpenalize? Certainly not depeople who providing depump because dem seh thatafter Rob Earth move dem hadto change de specificationfuh suit and fit Leslie. Is nuffconfusion.

And is de same confusionat Hen See Hen. That

company seh that de oldGuana who like young leafnot wukking deh. He wukkingwid Geenah. Dem boys wantto know if Geenah didn’t haveenough wuk to keep one oldGuana busy. That is why deopposition cut de budget.

Dem boys seh that deopposition couldn’t giveGeenah money to let de oldGuana trouble young girls.Anyhow, dem have aninvestigation and de man stillgot de nerve to go to wuk likeif nutten ain’t happen. Detruth is that he wife is a terrorand he can’t stay home likeMartin who ain’t got nuttennowadays.

Talk half and wait fuh depumping competition


Under a project for the Ministry of Education, two bids were submitted for the constructionof a special needs building at Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. The bids were opened by theNational Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance, MainStreet yesterday.

With an engineer’s estimate of $39,973,201 the bids were:

Bids submitted over $50Mfor special needs building

The Ministry of Education also received bids for the supply and delivery of chemicals toNational Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). The bids:

Still in the education sector, bids were opened for the supply and delivery of libraryfurniture for the University of Guyana, Turkeyen. The bids submitted:

There was also a retendering in the education sector for the supply and delivery of carpentryand joinery equipment for the Linden Technical Institute.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment received a lone bidunder the Environmental Protection Agency for the supply and delivery of garbage receptacles.

In the Natural Resources sector, another solitary bid was submitted for the supply anddelivery of one 4x4 and one sedan motor vehicle.

The Ministry of Public Works also received bids for the rehabilitation and maintenance ofroads at Wanaina Bridge to Yarakita Landing; and Barabina Swamp Road Region One.

With an engineer’s estimate divided into two lots: (1) $20,053,000 and (2) 20,044,800there was one bidder.

The Supreme Court of Judicature received bids for the supply and delivery of printedmaterial.

The Office of the President also received a lone bid for the supply of two 4x4 motorvehicles for the E-Governance project unit.

Three bids were submitted for the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Developmentfor the construction of a storage area for recyclable materials at Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill.

With an engineer’s estimate of $9,528,700 the bids were:

Food insecurity and apervasive energy crisis canbe effectively evaded with theinfluences of science,technology, engineering andmathematics. This assertionwas on Monday accentuatedby UNESCO Commission(Guyana) Secretary GeneralInge Nathoo as she deliveredbrief remarks to the gatheringat a Caribbean Academy ofSciences workshop which isset to come to an end todayat the National Centre forEducational ResourceDevelopment (NCERD).

According to Nathoo, theavenue of science providesan opportunity to build thecapacity of children to thinkcritically about solutions thatutilise low cost resources.

She said it was againstthis background thatUNESCO recently supportedthe initiation of a pilot projectaimed at implementinginquiry-based scienceeducation in six local primaryschools. Thus far, thisambitious initiative has beenattracting involvement fromboth teachers and pupils andis serving to re-ignite aninterest in the sciences at theprimary school level.

Even as UNESCO awaitsthe final results of the pilotprogramme, Nathoo said that

UNESCO stresses importanceof Science in schools

the body recognises thatscience skills, oncedeveloped, stay for life, thusit is prepared to direct supportto the expansion of theinitiative.

She revealed that YouthChallenge Guyana, a non-governmental organisation,had even sought to embracethe programme with fundingfrom Exxon Mobil, a movewhich amplifies theimportance of partnership.

“UNESCO welcomespartnerships like these withthe private sector and wehope that we will be able toexpand on this from apersonal point of view andgenerally,” Nathoo added.

The ongoing scienceworkshop has as its theme“Hazard Mitigation:Protecting CaribbeanInfrastructure – SecuringCaribbean Communities,”and according to Nathoo, itis expected to motivateteachers to design acurriculum that is relevant toproblem-solving.

In fact, she noted that“there is need for alignmentin our schools’ science andmathematics curricula tonational and regionalcurricula. It is said that anyproblem turned outside in orupside down is an

opportunity...so the use ofscience, technology,engineering and mathematics,are tools to solve our foodand energy crises.”

“This is our opportunityto build the capacity of ourchildren to think criticallyabout solutions that utiliselow cost resources. Thehands-on approach that theinquiry based scienceeducation emphasises willprovide the opportunity tobuild students’ interest insciences and help them toconnect what they do in theclassroom with solutions toproblems in their world...Afterall, one definition of scienceis that it is really the humaneffort to solve problems.”

Moreover, Nathoo saidthat UNESCO supports theuse of the micro-science kitwhich promotes hands-onwork by students who maynot have the adequatelaboratory facilities.

“We need our students todo science, not science to bedone to them,” Nathoo said,even as she stressed that“allowing students theopportunity to doexperiments ensure that theydevelop the national scienceprocess skills such asobservation andcommunication.”


A three-day workshopaimed at amplifying theimportance of science in theCaribbean societycommenced Monday at theNational Centre forEducational ResourceDevelopment (NCERD).Some 25 local scienceteachers have been selectedto participate in theworkshop, as are threeTrinidadian teachers andanother two from St Lucia.

This is the second yearthat Guyana is hosting theannual forum, which isundertaken by the

Caribbean Academy ofSciences, having previouslyhosted in 2009.

The forum is being heldunder the theme “HazardMitigation: ProtectingCaribbean Infrastructure –Securing CaribbeanCommunities,” and is beingfacilitated by a number ofrenowned scientists,including the likes ofProfessor Emeritus WinstonMellowes and Dr. JuliannaAlexander of the Universityof the West Indies, as well asProfessor Arnoldo Ventura ofMico University College inJamaica. The latter professor

Importance of science in hazardmitigation being highlighted at CAS forum

has been instrumental indrafting a science policy forGuyana which will serve asthe basis for a nationwideconsultation in the comingmonths.

Among the otherfacilitators are Messrs PhillipDaSilva and Patrick Ketwaruof the University of Guyana;the local Ministry ofEducation’s ScienceCoordinator, Ms. Petal Jetoo;Science Educator Mr. OttisKaruth and MathematicsEducator Ms. Henry both ofTrinidad.

The objective of theforum is to raise the level ofscientific literacy in theRegion and to increase publicunderstanding andappreciation of theimportance and potential ofScience and Technology inhuman progress; to provideteachers with knowledge andskills in inquiry teaching andlearning; to putexperimentation back intoschools; to introduce the useof micro-science kits in theteaching of secondaryscience and to use teachingand learning methodologiesthat will increase students’interest in the sciences and

mathematics.The workshop, which will

also direct some focus on theimportance of mangroves inGuyana, comes at a timewhen Guyana is directingmuch attention to the area ofscience.

In presenting a featureaddress in place of Ministerof Education PriyaManickchand, Adviser to theMinister, Ms Melcita Bovell,revealed that “here in Guyanawe are making more and moreefforts to cause moreteachers to be qualified inscience. At the moment weare making the effort toencourage teachers to go tothe University to do theseparate Sciences.”

In fact, she disclosed thatthe Education Ministry hasput in place a plan to givepriority to teachers who aredesirous of pursuing studiesin the sciences, even as shealluded to a system tofacilitate the release ofteachers to attend theUniversity of Guyana.

“We are doing thisbecause as a Ministry weunderstand that science,mathematics and technologyare the foundation on which

the rest of our world willstand,” Bovell passionatelyasserted.

With this in mind, shecommended the CASworkshop, which seeks tobring together the resourcesfrom Guyana and around theCaribbean to ensure thatteachers are prepared for thetask of moulding the Region.This strategic move, she said,would ensure that science isdemystified and thatclassrooms become a placewhere students are happy todo science.

Representing CAS wasProfessor Mellowes, whohighlighted that popularnotions suggest that scienceand mathematics are difficultsubject areas and aretherefore only for giftedstudents. “These attitudes,fuelled by poor science andmathematics teaching,account in no small measurefor the large numbers ofpersons in the society whoare technologically deficientand the small stock ofscientists, engineers and

researchers as well asinnovators,” said Mellowes,who is the CAS’ Focal Pointin Science.

As a result, he intimatedthat the CAS forum is aimedat helping to build a nationalcommunity of scientists,engineers and innovators,and to address an urgent needto increase the number ofstudents pursuing sciencesubjects, while at the sametime seeking to increase thesuccess rate of studentswriting the examinations in theCaribbean.

“We think and hope thatthis will constitute afoundation for the country’scompetitiveness anddevelopment of knowledge-based economies...Wedecided that we had to helpbuild a large societal base thatis scientifically literate,technologically sound; thatare creative and that areinnovative, and to build anawareness of the positiveimpacts of science...”Mellowes added.

In this regard, he said that

CAS has recognised theimportance of focusing onenvironmental issues such asunplanned settlements, poorfarming techniques andmethods, waste frommanufacturing and the overallimpact of climate change andalso the mitigation of hazardsin the Caribbean region.

In her inauguralpresentation as Head ofNCERD, Ms. JenniferCumberbatch said that theCAS workshop is both atimely and interesting movein the wake of several naturaldisasters. According to her, itis evident that mitigation isthe way forward to provideprotection, even as shestressed that action needs tobe taken to reduce or preventfuture damage, preferablybefore a disaster strikes.

“I do hope that theworkshop does not onlypromote knowledgeacquisition, but emphasisesknowledge application,”Cumberbatch asserted.

In the same vein, UNESCO

A section of the gatheringat the Opening Ceremony

(Continued on page 20)


Four Guyanese teens...(From page 13)own nickname of ‘dead man’s curve’ because it comes up soquickly and it’s such a sharp turn,” Senti said.

Beer’s family, immigrants from Guyana, were at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola and not reachable for com-ment.

Neighbor Shawn Hussani, 25, said Beer’s “parents got himthe car” after he enrolled early at St. John’s University.

“He was smart,” said Hussani. “We’d always see him study-ing.”

Another neighbor, 19-year-old Dylan Harry, said Beer wasa braniac who never got in trouble. “He’s always been astraight-A student,” he said.

Beer’s former Spanish teacher had nothing but praise.“He was a great student,” said Sally Shabana. “He was

sweetheart. I hope he pulls through.”It’s not clear where Beer and his buddies were coming from,

but they were heading westbound around 3:40 a.m. on theparkway when the Subaru suddenly roared off the highwayand into some trees in Malverne, LI, police said.

“It sounded like an airplane crash,” Michael Campos, wholives nearby, told WPIX television.

Campos said when he went out to investigate, he found ahorror show.

“I saw four bodies on the floor and I went by the road, onthe highway, and it was slippery,” he said. “It was wet like itwas just raining out.”

Investigators later found backpacks, a standardized testprep manual and a video game.

Other witnesses reportedly saw a young man amid thewreckage right after the crash, using a cell phone to light hisway in the gloom. It was not clear if this was Beer.

Leader of theParliamentary OppositionBrigadier (ret.) David Grangeris hopeful that a moreequitable and democraticlocal government system willbe realised through thecombined support of APartnership of National Unity(APNU) and the Alliance ForChange (AFC).

Speaking at a People’sNational Congress Reform(PNCR) press conference lastweek, Granger said that since

Opposition voting strength couldlend to Local Govt. Reform

the November 28, 2011elections “we are nowcapable, more capable thanbefore, of ensuring that thewill of the majority isrepresented and that thevoice of the people could beheard.”

In this regard, he said thatsome of the Bills that werebefore the Ninth Parliamentwill in fact be brought backto the 10th Parliament.Parliament is set to come outof recess today and

according to Granger “we willuse the support of the votewhich has been given us,between the AFC and APNU,to ensure that we have a moreequitable and moredemocratic local governmentsystem.”

He pointed out that thepolitical opposition will seek

to use its voting strength tomake sure that the people ofGuyana have LocalGovernment Reform inaccordance with their wishesadding that “we will do whatwe have to do at the level ofthe National Assembly and Iam confident that after 18years we are going to get

Local Government Reformthrough the NationalAssembly...”

According to the Leaderof the ParliamentaryOpposition, he has no fearthat this mission will beachieved allowing for LocalGovernment Elections that isdone by a fairer system anddoes not have the intrusiverole of the Minister of LocalGovernment. This, byextension, Granger noted, willalso guarantee that there willbe proper funding for themunicipal and localgovernment bodies.

In commenting on theneed for the President of theRepublic to assent to Bills,Granger asserted that thereare intervening mechanismsthat can be engaged, even ashe highlighted that “thepresident does not haveabsolute dictatorial powers,so he is obliged to conformto certain requirements of theNational Assembly.”

According to Granger, ifthe President fails to assentto Bills submitted by theopposition, not only will hehave to show cause, but itcould in fact lead to a“collision” which could seeother government businessbeing affected.

“We have had thisproblem before during the2012 budget and we are betterprepared to deal with theresistance and opposition bythe People’s ProgressiveParty. The lessons we havelearnt from the previousparliament is that the twoopposition parties have to

continue their collaborationand this is what we aredoing.”

Granger disclosed thatAPNU is in touch with theAFC, a strategic move thatwill ensure that the legislativeagenda of the two partiescould be harmonised so that“when we go to the NationalAssembly the will of themajority is reflected in thevotes that are taken.”

The last nine months ofparliament, Granger said, havebeen very edifying to theparliamentary opposition and“we are confident that we willbe able to maintain momentumof the cooperation that wasevident during the budgetand the other measures webrought before the NationalAssembly, such as the voteof no-confidence in Mr.(Clement) Rohee.” “Thesethings are possible becauseof cooperation between thetwo opposition parties,”Granger added.

Meanwhile, he said thatthe opposition is currentlyseeking the support of locallawyers and internationalbodies to help in its quest ofdrafting its own Bills.According to Granger, theopposition has thus farspoken with the UnitedNations DevelopmentProject, which is obliged tocollaborate with theGovernment of Guyana.However, he noted that thisis a work in progress.

“We are aware of theproblem of drafting our Billsand we are seeking help, butit is a work in progress.”

...but failure to assent to Bills couldcause “collision” – Granger


“Twenty years ago today(yesterday) ComradeCheddi Jagan was sworn inas Guyana’s f i r s tdemocratically electedPresident. It was thebeginning of the journey thatwe are still on today.”

This was one of the manyreflections of PresidentDonald Ramotar as headdressed a forum yesterday,commemorating the People’sProgressive Party Civic(PPP\C) Administration’s 20-year period in office from 1992to present day.

“Comrade Cheddi’sstruggle was to set themodels, rehabilitate andmodernise. Look at what wasdone and even moreimportantly what currently isbeing done. Asphalticconcrete surfaces, race thelength and breadth of Guyanaon our highways andbyways.

Four lane highways withtraffic lights, roads wherethere were none.Infrastructure wastransformed. Infrastructurewas transformed in all thesectors… remarkable andtremendous strides continueto be made as we speak,” theHead of State asserted.

“The main effect of the

Pres. Ramotar renews promise to modernize Guyana…as PPP/C celebrates 20 years in power

President Donald Ramotar speaking at the20th anniversary of People’s Progressive

Party/Civic(PPPC) administration in Government. (GINA Photo)

infrastructure rehabilitationwas its contribution to theelevation of standards,increasing productivity andoutput.

The need for goodinfrastructure is vital andindispensable to social andeconomic progress. Guyanahas once again proven thateconomic axiom.”

“We rebuilt infrastructureso that our society Guyana

could benefit from NewBeginnings, and our nationhas.

Our Party is grounded inthe belief that the mostimportant factor fordevelopment is our people.We held this view beforewe took office and it is thisposition that guides ourdai ly ac t ion ingovernment,” Ramotarstated.

He stressed that the PPP/C Administration will belooking to further modernizethe country in areas ofAgriculture, Tourism as wellas infrastructure.

During his address,President Ramotar disclosedthat Guyana is much closer tosecuring finances to buildingthe Amaila Falls HydroElectric facility.

“This will see usgenerating some 90% of ourenergy needs from renewableresources; this will have aprofound impact on thegrowth of manufacturing andprocessing in our country andallow us to reduce ourdependence on fossil fuel andsave valuable foreignexchange”

The Head of State notedthat Guyana has a tremendousopportunity of becoming “ahub in the world of air traffic”with the expansion of theCheddi Jagan InternationalAirport

This, he said, would fostera boost to the tourism sector.The promise of modern hotelswill also assist in promotingthis cause, Ramotar opined.

He noted that theresuscitation of the mining

industry has furtherstrengthened Guyana’seconomy.

“New expansion is takingplace, we are developing ingold mining in more modernways. A new manganese mineis expected to begincommercial operation soon”

Ramotar made acomparison of the growthof the respective industriespr ior to the PPP/CGovernment which tookoffice in 1992.

“Sugar increased outputfrom a mere 130,000 tons in1990 to 237,000 tons in 2011;rice was just 90,000 tons in1990, last year it was 402,000tons; declaration of gold in1991 was 59,000 ounces, lastyear it was 363,000 ounces;bauxite was 1.3 million tonsin 1991, last year it was 1.8million tons.”

Reflecting on the Party’sachievements, Ramotar saidthat after being elected intogovernance in October 1992,the PPP/C took of f iceunder the Presidency ofthe late Dr Cheddi Jagan,and “…from that era to nowGuyana has seen economicaverage growth of 5 % perannum.”

He also noted that theprivate sector has madetremendous strides, andlauded the party’s continuedrecognition of the country’sindigenous peoples.

“Under the PPP/C theAmerindian Affairs Ministrycame into being as well as thecreation of the NationalToshaos Council under the2006 Amerindian Act.”

Meanwhile, in heraddress, Executive PartyMember Gail Teixiera told thegathering that the currentGovernment had struggledfollowing their appointmentto of f ice , to provideGuyanese with a bet terquality of life.

However she noted thatafter two decades of politicalrule, the PPP/C Governmenthas afforded the publicwith the opportunity ofbecoming property owners,empowered women, andprovided better qualities ofeducation and health care forevery level of society.

Teixeira neverthelesssaid that “the struggle is notover” as she called on allGuyanese to join in theprocess of developing thenation.

By Rehanna Ramsay


A pregnant woman andmother of four was stabbedto the neck by her reputedhusband, on Monday, aftershe confronted him with hersuspicion that he wassleeping with her 16-year-oldmentally challengeddaughter.

The 32-year-oldAlbouystown residentreceived eight stitches at theGeorgetown Public HospitalCorporation (GPHC) for thelaceration.

The woman, who is sevenmonths pregnant for thesame man, claimed thatfollowing the argument withher spouse she exited the

Man slashes pregnant partner’s neck…after confronted about

possible act of carnal knowledge

house “to go chop chicken”when the assault occurred.She related that the manapproached swiftly, snatchedthe knife she was using andinflicted the wound to herneck before fleeing.

The woman disclosedthat she fainted and wasrushed to the hospital by aneighbour and one of hersons.

Yesterday, when KaieteurNews visited the woman ather Albouystown residence,she said that her partner hasconstantly abused her overthe years. She said that shereported him numerous timesto the police and they even

went to court on oneoccasion.

The woman revealed thaton Monday she and herpartner “went up the roadnuff time” because of her 16-year-old daughter.

“My daughter ain’t tooright-minded but she tell methat he does feel she up andwhen I ask he, he only cussingup,” the pregnant womanalleged.

She claimed that

whenever her partner is underthe influence of alcohol hewould admit to having sexwith the minor.

“When he drunk, he doescuss and tell me that he done(expletive) my daughter andhe does cuss up bad, bad. Iasked my daughter, but shesay he does only feel her up.”

The woman told KaieteurNews that her suspicious ofher partner increased earlierthis year when she woke up

one night and didn’t find himnext to her.

“Me and he went sleepingin the hall and my daughterwas in the kitchen sleepingand when I wake up I didn’tsee him and when I get up Isee he coming out the kitchenand when I ask he, he tell methat he went for water, but thewater went far from he,” thewoman recounted.

She said that thefollowing day she questioned

her daughter, but the teenreplied in the negative.

“This girl does troublewith high sugar, so the peopleat the hospital and Welfare tellme that I shouldn’t give hermoney before she buy sweetand collapse on the road, butlike he does give her moneyand she nah talk,” the highlyupset woman claimed.

Up to press timeyesterday Police had notlocated the suspect.

The woman’s slashed neck

Today Guyana joins therest of the world in observingWorld Mental Health Dayunder the theme “Depression:a Global Crisis”.

Depression is a significantcontributor to the globalburden of disease and affectspeople in all communitiesacross the world, includingGuyana. Today, depression isestimated to affect 350 millionpeople.

The World Mental HealthSurvey conducted in 17countries found that onaverage about 1 in 20 peoplereported having an episode ofdepression in the previousyear. Depressive disordersoften start at a young age;they reduce people’sfunctioning and often arerecurring. For these reasons,depression is the leadingcause of disability worldwidein terms of total years lost dueto disability.

The demand for curbingdepression and other mentalhealth conditions is on therise globally. A recent WorldHealth Assembly called onthe World HealthOrganization and its memberstates to take action in thisdirection (WHO, 2012).

World Mental Health Daywas established in 1992thanks to the work of Richard(Dick) Hunter, the DeputySecretary General of the WorldFederation for Mental Health.

After a period of planning,the Federation proclaimed 10October as World MentalHealth Day and Dick lookedfor ways to build support forit. The World HealthOrganization agreed tobecome a co-sponsor, and theproject was also supportedby the Carter Center when

World Mental HealthDay 2012: An occasion to

reflect and celebrateformer U.S. First LadyRosalynn Carter agreed tobecome honorary chair of theevent.

The immediate goal of theproject was to draw attentionto mental health as a causecommon to all people acrossnational, cultural, politicaland socioeconomicboundaries. The longer termgoal was to establish parityfor mental health withphysical health in nationalhealth priorities and services.

Looking back over generaltrends in the field in the pasttwo decades, it is clear thatthere have been substantialchanges in the place of mentalhealth at global, national andlocal levels. High qualityepidemiological research hashelped quantify the extentand impact of mental healthdisorders on individuals,families and societies. Theyare now ranked at or near thetop of public healthchallenges and priorities bythe World HealthOrganization and anincreasing number of itsmember states. There havebeen advances in humanrights, reduction of stigma,and empowerment of serviceusers. To a growing extent,the large asylums and mentalhospitals of past ages arebeing replaced by communitymental health and supportservices. Increasingly, mentalhealth services are becomingstronger and better integratedinto primary health settings.Treatments are becomingmore effective and readilyavailable.

World Mental Health Dayremains an important vehicleto advance mental healthobjectives worldwide.


Members of A Partnershipfor National Unity (APNU) aswell as other concernedcitizens yesterday staged aprotest outside of the Officeof the President onVlissengen Road, calling forthe resignation of HomeAffairs Minister ClementRohee.

The group was also seencarrying a miniature casketbearing the name of theHome Affairs Minister.

Meanwhile, OppositionLeader David Granger, whowas present at the protest,told the media that the actionwill not cease until theMinister steps down.

“We are convinced thatthere will be no reform ifRohee is there. He is not theman to be there and he mustgo,” Granger said.

He added that they willcontinue to seek justice forthe relatives of those whowere allegedly killed bypolice, and noted that whilethe Commissioner of Policehas visited the family of therecent victim of alleged policekilling, much more needs tobe done.

APNU stages protest outside OP- insists “Rohee must go”

“While this is a step in theright direction, theCommissioner of Police alonecannot bring about reform.Reform has to start with thePPP administration, but onceRohee is there this will neverhappen, and until we getreform we will continue asan opposition to do what wecan to bring about a change,”the Opposition Leaderpledged.

Responding to a questionabout whether their protestaction was bearing fruit,Granger opined that it has,reminding the gathering thatthe opposition has filed a no-confidence motion againstthe Home Affairs Minister.

In addition, Granger saidthat in the next sitting ofParliament several papers willbe presented on the collapseof public security.

The Opposition has beencalling for the removal of theHome Affairs Minister in wakeof the killing of threeLindeners – Allan Lewis,Shemroy Bouyea and RonSomerset; Agricola residentShaquille Grant and DameonBelgrave of Lethem.

The group of protestorsoutside the Office of the

President yesterday.


Three of the six cricketumpires accused of match-fixing by an Indian TV stationhave spoken to the BBC todeny the allegations. India TValleged the umpires - from SriLanka, Pakistan andBangladesh - were willing tofix World Twenty20 gamesahead of the tournament, in aprogramme broadcast onMonday.

“It is absolute rubbish,”Bangladeshi umpire NadirShah told the BBC. None ofthe umpires named wereinvolved in the games of theactual tournament.

The International CricketCouncil (ICC) is investigatingthe claims. Cricket’sgoverning body has called onthe broadcaster to hand overevidence that could help itsinvestigation.

Umpire Shah added:“These people are setting upthese things. Telling whateverthey feel like. Once we knewthat these people are crookedwe backed out.

Umpires deny cricketmatch-fixing claims

“I didn’t know it was asting operation. Once I foundout that these people aretrying to fix matches I justbacked out and left. “Thattime I informed my agent. Itold him about these things.He said keep quiet I willhandle the matter. I justbacked out. It happened fouror five months back.

“I didn’t inform [the ICCor the Bangladesh CricketBoard], I informed my closepeople this is what happened.I found out later that theseguys are bookies. “The ICChasn’t contacted me yet. I amgoing to tell the truth. That’s it.”

Two of three Sri Lankanumpires accused, MauriceZilva and GaminiDissanayake, also deniedallegations of corruption. “AllI have to say is that we areinnocent of all thesecharges,” said Zilva.

“We have alreadyinformed Sri Lanka Cricket[Board] to hold an impartialinquiry into this. “I’m pretty

sure they don’t haveevidence because we didn’tdiscuss anything to do withmatch fixing.”

After an emergencymeeting, the Umpires’Committee of Sri Lanka’sCricket Board concluded thatthere was wrongdoing.

The Committee Chairman,ARM Aroos, told the BBC thefootage appeared genuine. “Ithink they’ve made mistakesby agreeing to certainthings”, he said.

The latest allegationscome almost a year afterPakistan players Salman Butt,Mohammad Asif andMohammad Amir were jailedfor their roles in a bettingscam during a Test seriesagainst England in 2010.

Another Pakistani player,Danish Kaneria, was bannedfor life by the England andWales Cricket Board in Junefor corruption in a fixing casein English County cricket thatalso involved MervynWestfield.

Football Associationchairman David Bernstein hasdescribed the opening of itsnew centre of excellence as an“historic” day for the Englishgame. The £105m St George’sPark complex in Staffordshirewill house all 24 Englandteams, from junior to seniorlevels.

“We have to get moreplayers through who can befull England internationalsand this is where it willhappen,” Bernstein told BBCRadio 5 live. “So much workhas gone into this for so longand to see it now is fantastic.”

The 330-acre site wasofficially opened by the Dukeand Duchess of Cambridge,who were given a tour of thepark. Prince William, who isPresident of the FootballAssociation, said: “Cominghere and seeing these

St. George’s Park centre of excellence officially openedwonderful facilities gives methe same feeling as when Ifirst went to the Olympic Park.

“It gives me great pridewe have created in thiscountry facilities that arebeyond compare anywhereelse. “St George’s Park is aconcept totally new. It willprovide more than just world-class facilities for our nationalteam and more than a universityfrom which hundreds of coacheswill graduate.

“It will provideemployment and a social hubfor local people and willfoster community spirit andpurpose and hopethroughout England.”

England’s players areusing the facility for the firsttime this week as they preparefor their World Cup qualifiersagainst San Marino andPoland. Aimed at raising

standards of play at all levels,it will provide a centre ofexcellence for trainingcoaches and for sportsmedicine, sports science andpsychology.

Among the facilities at StGeorge’s Park are:

- A senior training pitch,laid out to the exactdimensions of the playingsurface at Wembley Stadiumand with exactly the same mixof grass and artificial fibres.

- 11 outdoor pitches, fiveof which are floodlit and haveunder-soil heating.

- A full-size indoor 3Gartificial pitch with a viewinggallery for up to 200 people.

- An altitude chamber tomimic a variety of playingconditions.

- An indoor 60m sprinttrack with equipment tomeasure speed and running style.

- Walls adorned withsporting slogans, such asAmerican Olympian JesseOwens: “A lifetime of trainingfor just 10 seconds.”

- A new Hilton hotelfeaturing suites named afterformer England players andmanagers.

Bernstein described thefacility as “inspirational” andsaid it made him feel optimisticabout the future of thenation’s football.

He said: “This is thepinnacle clearly - and we hopethat this will be an inspirationin a number of ways.

“One of the main objectsof this, possibly almost themain object, is to producethousands of more highly-qualified coaches.

“There’s a lot morehappening in English footballat the moment in terms ofyouth development. We’retrying to move young playersaway from this physical side,of wanting to win too muchwhen they’re too young.

“We want more skill-based football, kids to enjoytheir football more. There’s agreat deal aimed at that.”

England’s senior men’steam have not won a majorinternational tournamentsince the 1966 World Cup andhave failed to reach a semi-final since the 1996 EuropeanChampionship.

The women’s side havemade three World Cupquarter-finals and twicefinished runners-up in theEuropean Championship.

WATER WORLD: Prince William shares a joke with Jermain Defoe,Ashley Cole and Andy Carroll in the hot tub at St George’s Park.

David Sheepshanks,chairman of St George’s Park,said the new complex can helpEngland close the gap onrecent World Cup winnerssuch as France and Spain.

“This is a place to inspireyoung people and youngcoaches to invest inthemselves and go beyondjust getting the badge,” hesaid.

“The teachers of the gamehave the defining influence.We are investing in theteachers so that we can getahead of what they are doingin France and Spain.

“This is a deliberatelylong-term view. Really it is theinvestment in coaches that iscrucial and from 2020onwards we will have winningEngland teams.” (BBC Sport)

Yorkshire began theirChampions League T20campaign with a five-wicketwin over Sri Lankan side UvaNext. David Miller hit 39 notout, Adil Rashid fired anunbeaten 36 and Phil Jaquesmade a rapid 32 off 21 balls togive Yorkshire victory inJohannesburg.

Uva Next had earlierreached 150-7 as Moin Ashraf(2-29) and Steven Patterson(2-30) claimed two wicketsapiece. But Yorkshiresuccessfully chased downtheir victory target as theymade 151-5 with three balls tospare.

Uva Next captain ThilinaKandamby top scored for hisside with 29 not out with WestIndies veteran ShivnarineChanderpaul adding 27.

Champions League T20Yorkshire beat Uva Next in Johannesburg;

Auckland Aces nail Sialkot Stallions

Miller had to leave the field inthe 13th over of Yorkshire’sinnings when he misjudgedan attempted pull-shot andwas hit in the face by a

bouncer from Umar Gul.But the batsman returned

after the dismissal of DanHodgson in the 19th over tohit the winning runs. InTuesday’s other game, NewZealand side Auckland Acesbeat Pakistan’s SialkotStallions by six wickets, in thefirst match of Pool 1 whichalso includes EnglishTwenty20 championsHampshire.

Yorkshire will move intothe main phase of theChampions League T20competition if they defeatTrinidad and Tobago in theirsecond qualifying match onWednesday (today).

The Tykes are competingin the tournament for the firsttime after reaching the FL T20final in August.

David Miller


From back pageMichael Muirhead on hisrecent appointment as thenew CEO of the West IndiesCricket Board.

Guyana’s Minister ofCulture, Youth and Sports, Dr.Frank Anthony in his remarksto his Colleague Ministerswas adamant that despite theobvious value of physicaleducation, the Region has nottaken it seriously thus far.

“We need to have greatersynergies between thegovernments of the regionand the regionalorganizations that managesports within the region,” saidDr Anthony. Minister

Anthony recommended thatan “Active People Survey” bedone to firstly benchmark thelevel of physical activity inthe Region.

This, he stated, wasnecessary for any effectiveevaluation of any sportprogrammes implemented byCARICOM.

Executive Member of theCaribbean Association ofNational Olympic Committees(CANOC), Keith Joseph, whoalso addressed yesterdaymorning’s opening ceremony,lamented that very often “ourespoused values were not insync with what we practiced,”and pointed to the apparent

CARICOM Cabinet Ministers told...

Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground is the venue chosento host what is anticipated to be a day of explosive actionwhen the Regal Stationery and Computer Centre / GuyanaSoftball League organized three-tier nationwide SoftballTournaments are staged this Sunday, starting at 09:00hrs.

Over $500,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs duringthe final day of action of the tournament which gotunderway earlier this year and served as a warm up tothe much anticipated Guyana Telephone and TelegraphCompany (GT&T) nationwide T10 softball tournament.

The day’s action bowls off with the Star Party Rentalssponsored Ladies T10 final, featuring Fazal Kayum’s XI takingon All Star Conquerors of Linden, the winner will receive$50,000 and a trophy and the runner up $25,000.

Another Linden team, namely South Stars XI will battleinaugural GT&T T10 winner Trophy Stall in the Male Openfinal, which is also sponsored by Star Party Rentals and carriesa first place prize of $100,000 and a trophy, with runner- uptaking home $40,000.

The third final of the day will be a 20 overs affair,sponsored by Regal Stationery and Computer Centre andinvolves Better Hope versus Success for the $100,000 firstplace prize and trophy, leaving the second placed team totake home $40,000.

Apart from the cash prizes, the player-of-the-match in allthree finals will be rewarded, while there will be musicalaccompaniment and dancing girls for the hundreds ofspectators who are expected to throng the venue to witnessthe culmination of this tournament, which took a back seatdue to the inclement weather and other competitions thatwere ran prior to this year’s GT&T tournament, which waswon by Regal XI.

Apart from Regal Stationery and Computer Centre andStar Party Rentals, other sponsors of the tournament whichpromises to be an annual affair are Elegance Jewellery andPawnshop, Mike’s Copy Centre and ‘Click’.

Explosive Softball actionset for Sunday at DCC

Wayne Osborne andOyono Sampson slammedcenturies as Sans Soucirecorded consecutivevictories when play in FerozeAmin Twenty20 cricketcompetition continued lastSunday in Wakenaam.

At Maria’s Pleasure, SansSouci defeated the hometeam by 138 runs. OpenerWayne Osborne led thevisitors who batted first to226-3 in 20 overs with a robust120 which included 10 foursand 7 sixes.

He dominated a 130 runopening stand with TulsieramRamdeen who made 37 asKennard Lewis picked up 2-25. In reply, the host lostwickets at regular intervals tobe all out for 88 in 12 overs.Off spinner Keval Persaudbagged 4-12 and GurnauthKhemraj 3-18.

At Noitgedacht

lack of enthusiasm ofeducators, for sport andphysical activity indeveloping the idealCaribbean person.

He urged Ministries ofEducation across the regionto “resist the temptation tocharacterise student andteacher involvement inphysical activity as a loss ofinstructional time,” andargued that “nothing thatengenders characterbuilding, improves capacityto produce and stimulate themental faculties should everbe so erroneouslycharacterised as loss ofinstructional time…”

Feroz Amin T20 cricket - Wakenaam

Osborne, Sampson hit centuries for Sans Souci

(10:00hrs), the home teamupset Good Success by 4wickets. Wazir Khan 32 andMustak Mohamed 23 werethe only batsmen thatshowed fight as the visitorswere bowled out for 111 in19.2 overs after batting first.

Pacers Hassan Mohamedand Randolph Harry grabbed3-25 and 2-28 respectively.Noitgedacht in reply suffereda few nervous momentsbefore they eventually wonthe game in 12 overs endingon 112-6. Neil Ramalho ledthe batting with 52(6x6) asNazeer Mohamed took 2-10.

At the WakenaamCommunity Center ground,Sans Souci hammeredZeelandia by 136 runs.Oyono Sampson was thestar with the bat scoring aneven century, decoratedwith 7 fours and 5 sixes,Wayne Osbornecontinued his fine formwith 69 as Sans Soucirattled up 207- 4 off theirallocation of overs, battingfirst. Ryan Adams took 3-25.

Zeelandia in responsefolded for 71 in 15 overs,Navishaul Pooran scored 28;

Osborne who maintained asteady line and length snared4-8, and Keval Persaud 2-2.

At Noitgedacht(14:00hrs), Sans SouciJaguars overcame the hometeam by 34 runs. ZameerZaman who top scored with36 and Tamesh Charrittar 25added 55 for the 4th wicket asthe Jaguars recovered from25-3 to score 145 before theywere bowled out in 18 overs.

Gladwyn Henry chippedin with 15, Hassan Mohamedand Neil Ramalho grabbed 3wickets apiece.

The host started off theirreply positively with Ramalhothe top scorer with 32, andMohamed 20, posting 50 forthe opening stand before theywere both dismissed in quicksuccession.

Pacer Siddiq Mohamed,left arm spinners Imran Khanand Moin Khan thencombined to destroy the restof the batting as Noitgedachtfell for 111 in 13 overs.Mohamed finished with 5-12while Imran had 3-20 andKhan 2-18. The competitioncontinues on Sunday.(Zaheer Mohamed)

Wayne Osborne

FIFA Vice President JimBoyce says he believesdiving in football is becominga “cancer within the game”.Boyce was reacting afterhaving watched footage ofLiverpool’s Luis Suarezgoing to ground in thesecond half of Sunday’s 0-0draw at Anfield.

“I have seen severalincidents and the Suarezincident, and to me it isnoth ing less thancheating,” he said. “It’sbecoming a cancer withinthe game. If it is clear it’ssimulation, they should beseverely punished.”

In September, StokeManager Tony Pulis hadcal led for the Footbal lAssocia t ion to punishthose found gui l ty ofdiving with three-matchbans and on Sunday Pulis

Diving becoming a cancer infootball - FIFA’s Jim Boyce

said striker Suarez shouldbe banned for what hedeemed to be diving duringSunday’s match.

Boyce added that healso thought action wasnecessary even if the initialincident had been missedby the match officials.

“It can be dealt withre t rospec t ive ly bydisciplinary committees,and it is done so in someassociations, and I believethat is the correct thing todo,” added the 68-year-oldfrom Northern Ireland.

“It can at times be very,very difficult for Refereesto judge whethersomething is a foul or a fairtackle and if players arediving then it makes theirjob even harder.”

An FA spokesman said:“Simula t ion i s not

something tha t the FAcurrent ly takeretrospective action overbut it is an issue that isof ten reviewed anddiscussed by the game’sstakeholders.”

Liverpool ManagerBrendan Rodgers defendedSuarez following Pulis’saccusations.

“At this moment thereseems to be one set of rulesfor Luis and another set foreveryone else,” he said.

“Diving and simulationis obviously a wider issuein football and one that weal l agree has to beeradicated from our gamebut there were o therincidents th is weekendtha t d idn’ t seem togenera te the samecoverage.”

(BBC Sport)

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